HC raps pleas for deferment over govt change

 Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday was critical of government pleaders and special pleaders citing a change in government for being unable to comply with court orders, expressing displeasure and questioning whether ministers alone would implement laws.

The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti faulted the contentions of government counsels in seeking adjournments in cases pertaining to the implementation of laws and provisions.

The court made the observations over a batch of nine writ petitions and two PILs over violations to GO 111 — which imposed restrictions on constructions in the catchment area and 10-kilometre radius from the full-tank level of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar reservoirs — and issuance of GO 69 in 2022 to provide for exemptions.

On September 22, the government submitted an undertaking that it would effectively implement GO 111 till the report was submitted by a high-level committee and would not take further action in the matter without the leave of the High Court. The court agreed.

While the matter was listed on Tuesday for a final hearing, for which the government had to submit to the court the report of the high-power committee and its stand, the government counsel requested the court to adjourn the matter for four weeks due to change of the government.

As similar contentions were being submitted before the court in various cases over the past few weeks, first citing the election process and then citing change, the court was irked, observing: “How does change of government relate to implementation of the provisions and laws? Does the minister alone implement the laws?”

Adjourning the batch of petitions related to GO 111 for two weeks, the court directed the government to submit its stand.